Saint Meinrad Archabbey

News

Monk professes first vows

August 07, 2014

Novice Dane DeDecker, OSB, professed his temporary
vows as a Benedictine monk in a ceremony on August 6, 2014, at
Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN.

He has completed his novitiate, a year of prayer and study of
the Benedictine way of life. As is the custom during the profession
of vows, he was assigned a religious name. Novice Dane will now be
known as Br. André.

Br. André, 37, is from Geneseo, IL. He attended Geneseo High
School and studied for a year at St. Mary's University of Minnesota
in Winona. He was a member of St. Anthony Parish in Atkinson,
IL.

Previously, he had been an over-the-road truck driver for 12
years.

Temporary vows are typically for three years. This period offers
a continuing opportunity for the monk and the monastic community to
determine whether monastic life is, indeed, the right vocation for
this individual.